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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by 

Ralph S. Mershon, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



Saul of Tarsus: 



DRAMATIC POEM. 



BY 



RALPH S^MERSHON, 




PRINTED MANUSCRIPT, 



^o.. 



V'3^^^1 
^7^^^ 



3 



Preface, 



THE recital of the incidents connected with the conver- 
sion of Saul of Tarsus commands perhaps, closer 
attention than any of the wonderful things recorded in the 
Acts of the Apostles. But, while it excites a lively interest 
by reason of its phenomenal character, it also induces a 
spirit of inquiry, which the face of the text fails to satisfy. 
Hitherto, it has been deemed sufficient to accept the literal 
recital as final, without an effort to ascertain whether, be- 
tween or beneath the Hnes, there did not lie a foundation, 
other than the accepted value of the text, upon which 
might be reared a satisfactory exegesis. From time to time 
hypotheses have been advanced, but speedily abandoned 
because, not answering reasonable inquiry. 

The surest basis of exegesis is to be found in the utter- 
ances of Saul himself; which, however strange the allega- 
tion may seem, have as yet, never been clearly apprehended. 

To attempt the presentation of that basis is the chief 
motive in the preparation of these pages. 

The statement made in the Acts, and in Saul's letters, 
were doubtless accepted by those to whom they were 
originally addressed, as sufficient, but there are many things 
ni the Acts and in his Epistles, which invite and encourage 
investigation ; many allusions to systems of learning and 
philosophy, extant during that time, which, if carefully 



PREFACE. Ill 

examined and applied, would hardly fail of affording rea- 
sonable and satisfactory elucidations of obscure and almost 
unintelligible passages. 

His letters abound in proofs of his transcendent intellect, 
supplemented and heightened by suggestions of copious 
stores of learning for which he says he is "debtor both to 
Greeks and Barbarians," and which constrain our admira- 
tion for his master mind in many of its workings; but there 
are certain matters alluded to in them, in a manner which 
seems so intentionally obscure, that they challenge our best 
inquiry into their real significance. One or two will suffice. 

In giving an account of his experience on the way to 
Damascus, Acts xxii, and xxiv, but especially in the latter, 
he says, the Voice addressed him in the Hebrew tongue ; 
but he does not give the Hebrew, he gives a substitute ; 
although addressing Agrippa, himself a Jew, and well 
versed in Hebrew learning and law. Indeed, Saul in his 
speech says, "I know that thou art expert in all matters 
and customs which are among the Jews." Why need Saul 
say the Voice spake to him in the Hebrew tongue in this 
instance, and omit mention of any tongue when speaking of 
his vision in the temple, (Acts xxii) when he says, " And I 
saw him saying unto me, ' make haste and get thee out of 
Jerusalem ; because they will not receive of thee testimony 
concerning Me ? ' " It may be fairly inferred that, in his 
speech to Agrippa there was a special reason for saying 
the Voice spake in the Hebrew tongue. 

Part of that utterance by the Voice contained the Ineffable 
Name of Deity ^ (,"j ^ ,*] ^) the vain utterance of which, is 
forbidden in the commandment, and more particularly by 
subsequent Jewish law, which is observed unto this day. 



PREFACE. IV 

notwithstanding the true pronunciation of the Name is lost. 
And when Saul says to the King, " For I know that thou 
art expert," he is saying ' thou wilt not require me, though 
in bonds, to be more explicit, for to thy understanding it 
were inexpedient.' 

When, toward the close of that address, Festus cries 
with a loud voice, " Much learning doth make thee mad," 
Saul replies, '*I am not mad most noble Festus," /. ^. , 
' Thou mayst not apprehend all that is understood by the 
King and me, touching this matter;' nevertheless, "I 
speak forth the words of truth and soberness ; " which is, as 
if he had said, * I may not violate a commandment of our 
law, even to obtain the favor of the King, or to regain my 
personal freedom ; if perchance by refraining, I but incur 
the imputation of madness from thee.' 

These, and other considerations, whether rightly, or 
wrongly apprehended, were deemed sufficient to warrant 
ihe preparation of the following work. 

Although the climax of the Drama is reached when the 
Divine favor is vouchsafed in the restoration to sight, ren- 
dering the conversion of Saul complete; yet for the pur- 
poses of dramatic conclusion, the action is continued through 
the baptism and the chanting of the Te Deiim Laudamus. 
Notwithstanding the introduction of that magnificent Hymn 
of the Church suggests an anachronism, it may be truly said 
that, inasmuch as its origin and authorship are obscure, 
no fitter time for its first utterance could be suggested than 
that of the conversion of Saul, which it is hoped, will be 
accepted as reason and apology for introducing it. 



§)a\x\ of T^ar^u^ 



PERSONS REPRESENTED. 

Saul of Tarsus, a Voum^ Pharisee. 
Gamaliel, a Doctor of the Jewish Law. 
Ananias, High Priest. 
Ananias of Damascus, Evangelist. 
Judas of Damascus, Friend to Saul. 

Simon, Alexander, -, 

I 
PuBLius, Marc, | 

\ Companions to Saul. 
NicANOR, Lucius, i 

Zenas, Hur, J 

Marcus, a Pupil of Gamaliel. 

Malchus, Servant to the High Priest. 

, Messenger to the Sanhedrim. 

Members of the Sanhedrim. 

Citizens, Etc. 

Scene. -Partly in Jerusalem, partly in Damascus and on the 
way thither. Time, A. D. 37 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 6 

ACT I. 
Scene I. — A Street in Jerusalem. Enter two Citizens. 

First Citizen. Friend, whither goest thou ? 

Second Citizen. I follow the throng. 

1ST Cit. Wherefore ? 

2D Cit. 'Tis the way of the world. 

1ST Cit. Thou answerest like a publican ; stand, like 
an honest man and answer straight, whither goest thou ? 

2D Cit. Like an honest man then, I follow the world \ 
and the world goeth whither it listeth for pleasure. 

1ST Cit. What present pleasure doth boast so large a 
following ? 

2D Cit. I could not divide with thee for the asking, 
and thou wouldst devour all ere I could cry Hold ; how- 
beit, this I may tell thee without danger of distress : Rumor 
saith, there was something of moving interest in the Coun- 
cil yesterday, and as I hold a man's full measure of Council 
news, I go thither to seek the truth. 

1ST Cit. How ran the rumor ? 

2D CiT. Thou hast my honest answer already ; wouldst 
thou know truly and distress me no further, come and 
learn for thyself. 

1ST Cit. Good ! {As they go they meet third Citizen.) 

3D Cit. How now ? whither in such haste ? 

1ST Cit. In search of news. 

3D Cit. What news ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. i 

1ST CiT. The latest, the truest, the easiest learnt and 
the quickest told. 

3D CiT. Thy stomach for news seemeth eager, and 
must observe a fast. 

1ST CiT. And would break fast presently, digesting the 
truth in the rumor of the doings in the Council yesterday. 

3D CiT. I can tell thee that, so mayst thou be filled ; 
howbeit, that hath no longer the savor of freshness. 

2D CiT. Tell it; it were fresh to us, if thou suffer it 
not to stale in the telling. 

3D CiT. Take heed and mend thy wit. Briefly, a lame 
man at the Beautiful Gate, was healed by two men of Gali- 
lee, named Peter and John, who protested they did it not 
of themselves, but by Jesus of Nazareth ; but how, I know 
not. 

2D CiT. The Council sat not at the Beautiful Gate ; 
what had the Council to do with the lame man or the 
Gate? 

3D Git. Nothing ; but my story hath two ends ; thou 
wouldst have the latter end first, be patient till I gather 
breath. 

1ST and 2D Cits. We be patient. 

3D CiT. This I know truly : he that was lame walks now 
as uprightly as ye do ; whereas before, man was never 
more willing to walk nor more helpless to do it. 

1ST CiT. Hast thou gathered thy wind yet ? Tell us of 
the moving interest at the Council. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 8 

3D CiT. I'll tell thee but by parcel; in gross thou couldst 
not absorb neither digest it. This work of healing drew all 
the people thither ; and Peter was moved to speak to the 
multitude, protesting that the man was healed by Jesus : 
wherefore the priests and temple captain apprehended both 
him and John, and yesterday they were examined by the 
Council,v — 

2D CiT. Now thou hast made a fair beginning, recover 
thy wind and proceed. 

3D CiT. — and, being asked by what power they did these 
things answered, by Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye slew, but 
whom God raised up, whereat the Council was very wroth 
and threatened them with violence and death. 

1ST CiT. That were an ungodly act ; how came they off? 

3D CiT. Why, Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, besought 
the Council to listen to some good advice ; whereupon, it 
concluded to let the men go with a beating. 

1ST CiT. This latter end is fresh news; pray, why were 
they beaten ? 

3D CiT. 'Twere a rare bit of wisdom to know that ; I 
dare only speak the truth ; how the Council came to that 
doth not accord with my present knowledge ; wouldst thou 
be a loyal son of Abraham ? "It befits thee to obey and re- 
spect the Council's conclusions questioning nothing. 

1ST CiT. Whereunto doth all this lead? 

3D CiT. God knoweth ; once a desire to possess a per- 
fect knowledge of good and evil, wrought such a deal of 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 9 

trouble in the world as you and I can never hope to out- 
live. Let us go hence; and if it please ye both, come 
hither to-morrow to this same place, to hear and tell the 
news. 

TST and 2D Cits. We will. \Exeunt omnes. 

Scene II. — Jei'iisalem : Apartment of Gamaliel, 
Enter Of K'^\K\AY.'L, after him ^iAV.c\]S>,2i Vu^iW, bearing a Cup. 

Gamaliel. 
Good Marc, I thank thee for this cooling draught, 
An eager thirst cleaves to my lips. 

Marcus. 

My lord, 
Is there some further service I may show ? 

Gamaliel. 
Not presently my son ; I am not well : 
The judgment of the Sanhedrim to-day. 
Was hasty, prejudicial, most unwise ; 
Which joined to hot dispute that went before, 
Hath much distempered me. Tell me, my son, 
Hast thou seen Saul of Tarsus since the throng ? 

Marcus. 
No, Master, I have not. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. lO 

Gamaliel. 

As thou goest hence, 
If ye should meet, salute and bid him hither : 
I would speak with him. 

Marcus. 

I will, Farewell. [Exit. 

Gamaliel. — (Solus.) 
The wrong is done : — the issue is deferred. — 
To-day, the Council in defeated rage, 
Usurped the power and did a deed of shame, 
Whose record will outlive the Hebrew State, 
And justify the Heathen's scorn of it. 
Rank infamy is writ against that court, 
Whose high and holy function 'tis to mete 
Dispassionate judgment in Jehovah's Name, 
In every cause, whose issue doth involve 
Or stripes, or restitution, bonds or death, 
Yet fails. A king may err, a people lured 
By kingly gauds, may disesteem the law, 
And lapse from godliness by godless works 
To sheer idolatry; but let a court, — 
That arbiter enthroned above the king, — 
Abate the smallest fraction of a grain. 
From righteous judgment owed in any cause. 
And dark distrust will poison every bond. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. II 

Allegiance, hope or love of law, that keeps 

A people leal. So sacred is the trust 

In that tribunal, paramount to kings. 

That one ungodly sentence taints them all. 

The Sanhedrim was sometime Israel's hope ; 

His pure, revered and trusted counsellor ; 

On whose deliberate, just and sure decrees. 

Abode no shadow of unrighteousness. 

All this is past. A spirit of unrest 

Hath seized the general mind ; e'en thro' that court, 

Which should be proof 'gainst prejudice and spleen, 

Instilled so fierce a zeal as will not list 

To argument, nor brook a just reproof, 

In matters vital to the common weal ; 

But rather for that zeal doth wrest the law. 

To do a deed of shame on guiltless men. 

Howbeit, this wrong rests not upon these twain. 

The whole estate of Israel by their stripes 

Is scandalized and mantled with disgrace ! 

O, such a wanton, shameful deed as this 

Should of a heathen tribune merit death ! 

O Justice, outraged in the name of Law ! 

Cry shame upon that court, a double shame, 

That should mete justice in Jehovah's Name, 

Yet scourges guiltless men i' the name of Law ! 

O Israel, in a purer court than thine, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 12 

Shall retribution be required of thee, 

For this foul wrong. For that thou knewest the right, 

Yet did'st it not, shalt thou thyself be scourged, 

With tenfold heavier, ruddier stripes than theirs ! \^Exit. 



Scene III. — Same. Evening: 
Enter Gamaliel and to him Marcus. 

Marcus. 
Rabboni, Hail ! 

Gamaliel. 
All hail to thee my son ! 
And welcome ! Yet, what brought thee here ? Thy task 
Is done, the time for labor past, the day 
Far spent ; and why hast thou returned my son ? 

Marcus. 

Mid-day, when I withdrew from thee my lord, 

And went to mine own house, -^not meeting Saul, 

As I had hoped to do, — I did repent 

That I had left thee unattended, ill ; 

And now return to minister to thee. 

If thou wilt have it so ; so prithee bid 

Me stay and serve thee as thy needs require. 



saul of tarsus. t3 

Gamaliel. 

For thy solicitude, good Marc, much thanks ; 
It well befits the goodness of thy heart. 
I am much better now, albeit, was I 
Offended deeply in the Sanhedrim, 
And were it meet, or hardly possible. 
Of this day's mischief to undo the work, 
Most freely would I do it. Now it stands, 
And must remain, let come what may withal 
In consequence. Of this shalt thou learn more. 
The goodness of thy heart, my son, doth make 
Me well again, and yields thee double thanks. 
Be thou assured that I shall safely rest 
Without the present need of thy kind help ; 
Get thee that wonted rest which youth demands. 
Nor let thy thought of me deprive thee of it. 

Marcus. 
My lord, if thou wilt have it so, Farewell ! [Exit. 

Gamaliel. 

Good, my son, Farewell ! (Solus.) 

The scenes of yesterday, the Council's shames, 
Are writ above and in the hearts of men : 
The storm that gathered in my breast is spent. 
His clouds disburdened, incoherent, drift, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. I4 

Emblazoned with the gorgeous hues of Hope, 

Whose glories lighted at God's altar flame, 

Illume and cheer and bless forever. Now, 

Refreshment do I crave of thee, O Sleep : 

Vouchsafe thy perfect rest to all my cares, 

Diversions, hopes, ambitions, doubts and strifes ; 

Take thou my will, and for a season hold 

Each several function vassal to thy reign. — 

( Chaniing) 
The Lord my shepherd is, I shall not want. 

He maketh me to He down in green pastures, 

He leadeth me beside the tranquil waters ; 

He doth restore my soul. He leadeth me 

In paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. [Exit. 

Scene IV. — Apartment of Gamaliel. Morning: 
Enter Gamaliel and to him Saul of Tarsus. 

Saul. 
Rabboni, Hail! 

Gamaliel. 

Hail, son, and welcome hither ! 
I'm glad to see thee well. 

Saul. 

How wert thou since 
I saw thee yesterday ? 



saul of tarsus. 15 

Gamaliel. 

Disquieted ; 
Through much distemper at the hot dispute 
And hasty judgment of the Sanhedrim. 
My son, since yesternight didst thou meet Marc ? 

Saul. 
No, Master, I did not ; did he seek me ? 

Gamaliel. 
Directly, No ; howbeit, as he withdrew 
At eventide, I said, shouldst thou meet Saul, 
Salute and bid him hither. 

Saul. 

Rabboni, since the Sanhedrim was moved 
By fitting zeal for law, for God and right. 
To seize and scourge these Galilean men. 
And inasmuch as we are both inclined 
Their matter to revise, 'twould seem in sooth. 
That God had moved in us a like desire 
And sent me hither unbid, to treat with thee. 
Besides, the Council's precedent excites 
Desire in me to vindicate the law, 
To quell this wicked and blaspheming sect, 
Whereto 1 pledge what time, what means I have. 
Entreat thy counsel and invoke thine aid. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. l6 

Gamaliel. 

My words of counsel in the Sanhedrim, 
Present in chief what course I would pursue 
As touching these same Galilean men, 
Which thou shalt see confirmed and justified. 
Why wouldst thou shamefully entreat these men ? 
They are not strangers here ; full well we know 
Their parentage and birth place ; we have seen 
Them move among us here these many years, 
True sons of Abraham are they, the rite 
Of our religion have they undergone, 
The seal and confirmation of our faith. 
Low-born, unlettered men are they, who love 
Their fellow-men, and would to others show 
The love they would have others show to them, 
And teach men so ; this is not evil-born. 
Good works come not of wicked men, but good ; 
Judge righteous judgment ; if thou findst that they 
Do break the law, let justice have her own, 
But stoop not thou to ill treat guiltless men. 

Saul. 

I own great deference to thy words, my lord, 
As is my custom ; they were ever full 
Of wisdom, truth and grace. To thee I owe 
My speech, my understanding, modes of thought, 
And, whatsoever else I do possess 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 17 

Acquired, that lends or pith, or argument. 

Or character, or power, to aims and acts ; 

And whatsoever boldness I do show, 

I show as doth a child what trust he bears 

His foster-father ; bloom and ripened fruit 

Of filial love. 

Gamaliel. 

Let it be ever so. 

Saul. 
Much that thou sayst in their behalf is just. 
They all are brethren, but shall that avail 
Against offended, outraged law ? Shall we, 
The keepers of the oracles of God, 
Stand still, while this sect gathers strength, and hft 
Nor voice, nor hand to quell it ? God forbid. 
Lest passiveness lend countenance to wrong, 
And we be accessories here or hence. 

Gamaliel. 
Where is the law infringed ? 

Saul. 

In this my lord, 

And by these self same men, who vindicate 

The sect of hated Nazarenes ; whose Head, 

Despised, rejected, spat upon and slain. 

They teach is risen from the dead, and seek 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 

By means deceptive so to move the mind 
And shape the general thought their wicked ends 
To prosper, that if left unchecked, they hope 
To fold together as a common herd 
The universal world. 

Gamaliel. 

What saith the Scripture? shall not all mankind 
Be taught to own a common brotherhood ? 
All flesh shall come to worship Me, saith God : 
This shall be so : tho' herein rest this doubt : 
Be that hour come or not, no man can tell. — 
As touching these, we all have seen and know 
Their lives are pure, their works are mainly good : 
This points to motive ; doth that motive spring 
From good or evil hearts ? Nay, if from good, 
Then is it from above ; but if from ill, 
The ill against himself divides and comes 
To naught ; their works bear witness then for good. 
My counsel, therefore, briefly summed is this : 
Let circumspection be our guide herein. 
Lest blinded by excessive zeal for law. 
We find ourselves in warfare against God. 

Saul. 

For first offences it were sometimes meet 
To overlook, excuse or pardon yield ; 



SAUL OF TARSUS. I9 

Men oft do err thro' ignorance of the law, 
But if reproved, they yet persist therein, 
The law presumes intent, and they be held 
Amenable hereto ; this is their case. 
Use circumspection as we will, my lord, 
God's law, shall not for any lack of zeal 
Become a by-word and reproach ; for I 
To quell this faction am resolved ; to seek 
Permission from the Sanhedrim to give 
My acts the strength of law ; yet beg thine aid 
And blessing on my cause. 

Gamaliel. 

What I have said, 
Expresses briefly what I feel, no more. 
That thou art so resolved doth grieve me much ; 
For now it doth appear, nor filial love, 
Nor counsel unimpassioned can avail 
Against the heat of that consuming zeal 
Which moves thee to engage in act so rash. 
1 cannot aid thee ; neither can I pray 
Of God a blessing on thy cause. 

Saul. 

Then must 

I go alone unaided and unblest. [Av/V Saul. 



saul of tarsus. 20 

Gamaliel. (So/ns.) 

Alas, that zeal man's frailty should disclose. 
Involve his judgment, move him to assume 
Discharge of perilous service that were void, 
Save one poor precedent of wrested law. 
It is nor meet, nor prudent, to affect 
What wears mere seeming ; nor what truly is, 
The end being bootless. Rather let us trust 
That Wrong will mend himself by ranker growth 
That his cohesion waning to his bulk, 
Will reach a Umit for self-overthrow. 

Than that we vainly make assay to do, 

A work which God mayhap will do alone, 

In fitrer season and by fitter means. 

It were more prudent clearly to discern 

What our true duty is, wherein it lies, 

Than let our fervor push us to display 

A blemish to repent of. [KxU. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 



ACT II. 

Scene I. — Jerusalem: The Sanhedrim: 

Enter Ananias, High Priest, Members of the Sanhe- 
drim and others. Enter Messenger. 

Messenger. 
My lords, one Saul of Tarsus waits without. 

High Priest. 
Is he attended ? 

Messenger. 
No, my lord, alone. 

High Priest. 
Admit him to our presence. 

\Exit Messenger. Enter Saul of Tarsus. 

Saul. 
Hail my lords ! 

All. 
All Hail ! 

High Priest. 

Hail, son ! What wilt thou ? Bringst some suit ? 

Saul. 
I do, my lord, and pray ye hear it. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 22 



High Priest. 



Saul. 



Speai 



Ye guardians of the oracles of God, 
Ye men of Israel, fathers, elders, all 
Who own a godly zeal for holy things, 
Would purge the Law of sin's polluting touch, 
And keep inviolate to remotest time. 
The blessed tenets of our holy faith, — 
Hear ye this my complaint. Ye all well know, 
That certain men of Galilean birth. 
Who followed Jesus, persevere to teach 
That he is risen from the dead, — the Christ. 
Misled by pseudo-miracles, and acts 
Of sorcery, performed on halt and blind. 
Much common people follow them. Seduced 
By promise of reward to be bestowed 
Not here, but hence, intangible, and vague. 
Whereto is joined community of goods. 
The people shun the service due to God, 
Confound with fables, utter blasphemies, 
And make God's law a by-word and a cheat. 
Moreover, 'tis their aim should they go free, 
To join in one ungodly brotherhood 
The habitable world, and thereby work 
Abomination of the baser sort. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 23 

My lords shall this be so ? Are ye resolved 

To interpose no hindrance, shape no act, 

Nor lift your voice to quell them? Must this sect. 

The enemy of God, abide unchecked, 

For that no loyal son of Abraham 

Will dare oppose to thwart it? Ye well know, 

Howbeit its Head is hence, the following grows 

Apace; yea, waxes contumelious, bold; 

Unscotch'd, unthwart, unhinder'd, unrebuk'd. 

Half-measures were but persecution cleped, 

As 'neath the scope and dignity of rule, 

Whose unremittant duty stably binds, 

Confirms and strengthens every several prop 

Whereon rests Israel's hope. Wherefore, my lords, 

Is't seemly, meet or wise, or just withal. 

Law but become a suppliant unto men, — 

That Law, — whose servants wq are, whose duty ours, 

To hold intact for ages yet to be 

Both Law and Oracles, which certify 

Us children of God's promise to the world 

His own, elect by covenant ? God forbid. 

This is my cause : and my petition this : 

Let letters issue with your seal affixed. 

To certify the rulers of the Church 

In foreign cities, that ye are resolved 

To apprehend these men, their following, all 

Who aid, abet, or cloak them from the law, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 



24 



And fetch them here for judgment ; to the end, 
The law be vindicate, they mend their ways, 
Or perish from the earth ! I, Saul, will bear 
And execute the writs. 



Rabbonim, Hail 



Gamaliel. 



All. 



Hail! 



High Priest. 



Would'st speak ? 



Gamaliel. 
I would, my lord. 

High Priest. 

Proceed. 

Gamaliel. 

My lords, this grace and cause conjoin 

To lend me speech for more than bounden thanks ; 

Wherefore, be pleased to hear me patiently. 

This suit for power, whose prayer recites no bounds, 

Consent being had thereto, were full of peril. 

Therefore, consider well what mischief lurks therein, 

What drift, what range your sanction may create, 

Lest, when beyond recall, a general wail. 

Of persecuted men ascend to Heaven. 

There is nor peril imminent to the Law, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 25 

Nor wrong yet done, if deeds be rightly scanned, 

To warrant kingly power to any man. 

But if blind zeal would harry low-born men, 

Nay, hale them hither from Jewry and beyond, 

Rob them of freedom, thrust them under bonds 

In prison, friendless, homeless, hopeless, lorn — 

Meanwhile the sanction of the Sanhedrim 

Deny them remedy, — I pray ye pause : 

It were sheer madness, else begot of fears. 

These folk are brethren, by that common bond 

And holy covenant which keeps us leal 

Unto that law this suit would fain uphold. 

Tho' they be Galilean born ; or strange; 

Or lazar ; heathen ; or Samaritan ; 

And tho' unlearn'd in Law and mysteries ; 

Yet are they men, and worthy to be held 

Joint heirs to freedom, never slaves in bonds. 

How doth a wrested principle of Law, 

Which oweth to every man his conscience free. 

Appear to Him, whom we profess to serve ? 

The Law is Mine : the Retribution Mine : 

Saith He who dwelleth in Light and spreadeth the clouds 

For His pavillion. Even stranger-law, — 

By which our Roman masters thrall us round, — 

Doth not permit its subject to be harmed. 

Who oweth allegiance, yet is uncondemned. 

Is it more worthy then, than Moses' law ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 26 

Shall we learn justice at the foot of Caesar ? 

Shall we, to whom the Law was giv'n in trust, 

So wrest that Law, that we become the scoff 

Of strangers ? Whither doth zeal mislead, my lords ? — 

Who was the leader of this sect is slain ; 

And those who follow, being themselves misled. 

How shall they prosper more than He who led ? 

Likewise, led Theudas, yet his following 

Came swift to naught, without your let, or quell. 

Refrain, my lords, ordain this sect be free ; 

If't be of men, 'twill fail without your stop ; 

But if of God, ye never may prevail. 

Lest haply ye confront the Holy One. 

I do entreat, my lords, for both these prayers, 

A just and patient judgment at your hands. 

High Priest to Gamaliel. 

We are much moved, Rabboni, by thy speech, 
Thy forceful, liberal showing point by point ; 
And were we single in our judgment here, 
This suit, mayhap, were hindered or denied. 
Eelations, thou knowest, are oftimes manifold ; 
Official station void of private choice, 
How e'er that choice incline. The precedents 
In this high court have hitherto upheld 
Tradition, and maintain'd the ancient Law. 
We doubt the wisdom that would fain relax 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 27 

That rigor, which doth hedge our sacred code 
Against incursion from unhallow'd custom. 

High Priest to Saul. 

Thy cause shall stand : 
The zealous fervor manifest herein, 
Assures successful issue to thy plan ; 
And we, — the Council joining in consent, — 
Will furnish thee commission under seal. 
To recognize thee unto foreign parts. 
And fortify thee shouldst thou be withstood ; 
This shall be done forthwith and sent to thee. 
God speed and prosper thee ! 

Saul. 

My lords, 

The cause I here maintain is God's alone ; 

I sought it, serve it, am His instrument ; 

A humble mean to compass holy ends. 

God knows ; I trust ; He wills to do, 'tis done, 

Or by His Spirit, or his sovereign power. 

He will be with me : so shall I not fear ; 

He will support me : so shall I prevail ; 

He will refresh me : so shall I not faint ; 

He will redeem me : so shall I be saved. 

For this recognizance my lords, much thanks 

And fortified therewith I take my leave. 



saul of tarsus * 28 

High Priest. 
Have thou onr blessing son. Farewell ! 

Saul. 

Farewell f \^Exit. 

High Priest. 

Brethren, this convocation we dissolve ; 

With patient zeal the issue to await 

Of this day's business. [Exetmf. 



Scene II. — Jerusalem: a Street near the Temple: 
Enter three Citizens. 

First Citizen. Thou comest to thy appointment be- 
times ; there must be that which brings thee hither besides 
thy promise. 

Third Citizen. There hath been an addition. 

Second Citizen. What ? 

3D CiT. Have ye not heard it ? The whole city is in 
an uproar about it. 

2D CiT. Speak of it quickly of thine abundant knowl- 
edge. 

3D. CiT. Well, the tumult raised over Peter and John 
had hardly passed away, when a new wonder arose. 

1ST CiT. What was it ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 29 

3D. CiT. Nay, strange enough, and withal, a most un- 
righteous piece of work. 

2D CiT. Well ? 

3D CiT. Certain of the Synagogue seized on Stephen, 
who was a worthy man, (albeit of late a Nazarene,) a godly 
man ; him they took and brought before the Council ; I 
was there and heard him make defence. 

1ST CiT. How came he off? as Peter and John ? 

3D CiT. Much worse as ye shall know : In his defence, 
he said some things so plain that the Council was stung to 
the heart ; for he had hardly done his speech, when with 
one accord they rushed upon him, dragged him forth with- 
out the gates of the city and stoned him till he died. 

2D CiT. 'Twas said he blasphemed. 

1ST CiT. Of a truth ? 

3D CiT. I saw it not, nor heard it neither ; but this I 
saw, mark ye : while he did speak in his defence before 
the Council, his face lit up as it had been an angel's ; and 
then he said, I see heaven opened, and the Son of Man 
standing on the right hand of God. 

2D CiT. At these words grew they not wroth ? 

3D CiT. Yea, truly; and they dragged him forth, and 
then the witnesses which testified against him, stoned him ; 
while Saul, a young man, and a most zealous, gave his 
voice against him, and held the clothes of them which cast 
the stones. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 3O 

1ST CiT. This man Saul doth only sojourn here; he is 
of Tarsus ; well, proceed. 

3D CiT. Before the good man Stephen died, he cried 
with a voice loud enough for all to hear, Lord, lay not this 
sin to their charge. And then he died. 

2D CiT. Whereunto doth these things lead ? What say 
the Romans? 

3D CiT. O, they care little for our quarrels as they call 
them ; to them they serve only to witness against us as a 
law-serving people. Stephen was no Roman, and being a 
Jew, was little more to a Roman than were a barbarian. 

1ST CiT. What will this young man Saul do, thinkest 
thou ? 

3D CiT. He doth follow up men and women who give ear 
to the teachings of Peter and John ; threatening and scourg- 
ing them like a madman ; dragging them to Jerusalem, even 
from strange cities; and further I hear, (but how far the 
truth will bear it up I know not,) he shall have letters from 
the Sanhedrim, signed with the hand of Ananias, our High 
Priest, and sealed, to witness him unto the brethren dwell- 
ing hence, exhorting them to aid him in stamping this sect 
out. 

1ST CiT. I like not that; let them go. 

3D CiT. Gamaliel told the Council as much, in good 
round phrase. Refrain from these men, said he, and let 
them alone ; lest haply ye find yourselves fighting against 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 3 1 

God : for it" this thing be not of God, 'twill die without 
your help. 

1ST CiT. So think I ; ill-treat them if thou wouldsthave 
them thrive. 

3D CiT. Saul thinks not so : he is for stripes and stones 
and blood. And withal he's honest and verily believes he 
doeth God service in driving these poor folk to desert 
places, to wander, starve and die for conscience sake. 

2D CiT. What if Jesus be the Christ ? and who knoweth 
truly ? 

3D CiT. Why, then an awful sin hath been wrought by 
this whole people. We slew him, and in our madness in- 
voked his blood on us and on our children ; so if he be the 
Christ, the vengeance of the dread I AM will surely fall on 
us and them. 

2D CiT. I am much inclined to think as thou dost of this 
matter. Saul, and we too, are drawing fearful lots. 

1ST CiT. And so think I, for when one looks these 
things full in the face, they are much worse than the seem- 
ing is. Violence and blood, are of late so swift that, 
unless some strong hand be lifted to bring peace and quiet- 
ness to our borders, brother will rise against brother, father 
against son, and this whole people be shedding each other's 
blood. 

2D CiT. These be troublous times. 

3D CiT. In truth they are. 

1ST CiT. Let us go hence and bide the end. \Exeuni. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 32 

Scene III.— Jerusalem : Apartment of Saul : 
Enter to him Malchus, Servant to the High Priest. 

Malchus. 

My lord, 
Our High Priest, Ananias, bade me come 
And give this letter from him in thy hand. 
With salutation, wishing thee God speed. 

Saul. 

I thank thee Malchus ; bear unto my lord, 

Thy master, many thanks, and say to him, 

I shall with all dispatch obey ; and make 

Report betimes. Exit Malchus, 

(Saul opens the letter and reads .•) 
Ananias, a servant of God, annointed unto the High 

Priesthood in the name of the Most High, unto the 

Elders and Brethren which dwell in Damascus, 

Greeting : 

Know Ye, of a truth, our most worthy son Saul, born 
in Tarsus, a city of Celicia, but sojourner at Jerusalem, 
a Pharisee, learned in the law and traditions of the 
fathers, and full of zeal for holy tilings, entreateth us to 
certify him unto you, even at Damascus, our embassador, 
to act for and in our stead, in all things whereof this 
letter witnesseth. Wherefore, Brethren, we do herein 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 33 

certify you, we have appointed and commissioned Saul 
of Tarsus, with his following, to act for and in our stead 
in all things whatsoever pertaining unto the suppression 
of doctrines contrary to the teachings of Moses and the 
Prophets ; but more especially, those doctrines taught by 
one Jesus of Nazareth, .and believed by many. And we 
exhort you Brethren, in the Name of the Lord, to do all 
things ye lawfully may do to the strengthening of his 
hands in this work ; to the end, the Religion of our 
fathers prevail throughout your borders, and that rest and 
peace be preserved to Israel. 

We salute you. Amen. 

Written with our hand and sealed with our signet, in 
Jerusalem, the Holy City. 

(Sent by the hand of Malchus, a servant of our house- 
hold, to be delivered into the hand of Saul. ) 

Saul. — {Solus. ) 

This writing, with this signet, vests in me 

A power, offensive as against these sects, 

A power, defensive as against our foes, 

A power, that every Jew doth straightway own 

Equivalent to sanction from on High, 

To do, whate'er may lawfully be done, 

To vindicate the sanctity of law. 

Besides, of acts this warrant doth allow. 

May none presume to scan or question aught. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 34 

Save He from whom this power is delegate. 
But if this edict be not all obeyed, 
Or e'en by indiscretion be excelled, 
When compt is rendered up to that dread Source, 
Whence all authority, all power, all grace. 
Even life proceed, — to which alone, for deeds 
Ill-done and worthily, shall I be held 
Amenable, since I this service sought. 
Of my self-born volition, sole and free. 
And hence responsible to double bond, — 
How shall my reckoning stand ? 
Wherefore, must I most zealously defend, 
The dread authority herein conveyed, 
Against presumptuous challenge from without, 
Or cavilling questions rising from within. 
Distrust, or sympathy, or weakness else, 
That, joined to circumstance, would haply serve 
To warp me from the right, or raise a point 
Whereon to ground a judgment for my pause. — 
So : who are these, my visitors ? 

[Enter ^0 Saul, Simon and Companions. 

Simon. 

My lord 
We, — Lucius, Alexander, Publius, Marc, 
Nicanor, Zenas, Hur and I, — are bidd'n 
By Ananias, our High Priest, to come 
And tender thee our service. 



saul of tarsus. 35 

Saul. 

Welcome friends! 

Your proffered aid I gratefully accept, 

And choose you partners in an enterprise, 

Whose purpose is, to purify the Church 

Of impious errors, perilous to her health, 

That may not prosper longer unrebuked. 

I hold commission from the Sanhedrim, 

To certify me unto foreign parts 

Embassador, empowering me to seize 

And send for judgment to Jerusalem, 

All those who aid, abet or will adhere. 

To dangerous teachings ; chiefly those set forth 

By Jesus, (falsely called by some the Christ.) 

And on the morrow I propose to go 

Directly to Damascas on my charge ; 

Whither I will that ye accompany me. 

Simon. 

We shall with pleasure faithfully perform 
What part soever may devolve on us. 

Saul. 
Mere pleasure that such business yields is brief, 
Though oft inviting ; did not duty lie 
So plainly to our view we cannot choose, 
And did not duty done, own dearer fee 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 3^ 

Than merely pleasure, it were hardly done. 
To-morrow, by God's will, shall we address 
Ourselves unto our charge ; till then, Farewell ! [Exeunt. 



Scene \N.— Wilhout the Gates of Jerusalem. Morning 
Enter ^K\Jh and Companions. 
Saul. 
Lo, beauteous Day exults o'er sullen Night, 
And rich with spoil, deserts the underworld : 
In gorgeous tints arrayed, ascends the East, 
And high above bold Hermon's dewy mount, 
Her pathway strews with pearls, and gems, and gold. 
Ascribe to Him, whose will the darkness brake. 
Whose Sovereign Hand led forth the Day, and fixed 
Bounds to the realm of shadows, lit the stars 
And said : Let there be Light : unbounded praise ! 



Simon. 

Behold my lord, how doth the City gleam 
With splendor, as the earliest glints of Day, 
Gild fane and bastion, castle, tower and gate ! 
Behold the Mount of Beauty, Zion's Hill ! 
How like a snow-white glory dropt from Heaven, 
To greet with benediction, joy and peace. 
Appears the sacred form on Zion's Mount, 
The House of Prayer ! 



saul of tarsus. 37 

Saul. 

O Jerusalem, 
Jerusalem, thou City of that Prince, — 
Who, in the fullness of prophetic time. 
Shall sit the throne of Israel's shepherd-king, 
Whose reign shall be an everlasting reign. 
Whose realm shall fill the compass of the earth. 
To whose exalted throne the world shall come 
For judgment, equity and law, — in thee, 
Shall dwell the Hope whereof the prophets spake. 
When they beheld far down the range of time, 
The blessed vision of Immanuel ! 
From thee shall issue to the nations joy 
And blessing ; peace, good-will and life as pure 
And free, as was the limpid flood that break 
From Oreb forth ! O thou, Jerusalem, 
I may not lightly turn my face from thee. 
Nor quit thee other than with yearning heart. 
For all my cherished hopes are lodged in thee. 
To thee, did childhood's fancies fondly cling ; 
To thee, doth manhood's strong desire ascend; 
In thee, my sacred vow did I assume. 
Thy sanctity, O Zion, to uphold ! 
Fain would I linger near thy hallowed gates. 
Admire thy wondrous beauty bathed in light. 
Till sense were cloyed, transported at the view ; 
Yet, while expanding distance slowly dims, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 38 

The glimmering picture that doth hold me rapt, 

I dose my longing eyes, and turn and say, 

In saddened accents, Peace abide with thee ! [Exeunt. 



Scene V. — A Desert Place on the way to Damascus: A Tent : 
Enter Saul and Companions. 

Saul. 
Companions, 

To-morrow, ere the twilight hour return. 

Shall we be lodged within Damascus' gates ; 

And then, relieved of vigils wrung from Sleep, 

Enjoy unbroken rest. 

Simon, keep we the early watch to-night. 

And who be our relief seek ye your rest. 

Till yonder star, which twinkles on the verge. 

Usurp the region where Orion burns ; 

Then would we be relieved, and then our voice 

Shall wake the echoes in your drowsy ears, 

And rouse you to fulfillment of your duty. 

\Ail except '^K\j'L and Simon retire. 

Simon. 

My lord, — Lo, where yon flaming star descends! 

Dost thou regard the aspect of a star, 

Which courses through the heavens with dazzling glare, 

And then is quenched in gloom, as boding ill ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 39 

Saul. 
I draw no omen from a falling star, 
Nor one which moves in his appointed course, 
Nor natural aspect, nor unwonted mien, 
In heaven, or earth, or sea, or fire, or air, 
Of health or hurt, as many credulous do ; 
But gaze in varying wonder on yon hosts 
Which sweep in silence thro' th' exalted depths, 
Each bearing separate glory course and time : 
For one star diff'reth from another star 
In glory. Therein doth He who made them all, 
Appointed each his place, and course, and cycle. 
Constrain our admiration, love and awe, 
And lift our souls to Him in psalms of praise. 
Behold Arcturus and his shining sons, 
Fling gleams of glory through the northern sky ! 
See, where Orion floods with silvery sheen 
All yonder heaven which bends above the south ! 
Lo, where that wandering star above the verge, 
Eelumes the fading splendor of the west ! 
Behold yon pleiads, which together sang 
Primeval anthems to creation's morn ! 
These lights more near, those myriads more remote. 
Which blaze and twinkle in the voiceless space. 
Inspire the soul with sense of reverent awe, 
And wring confession from our boasting lips, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 4° 

Like utterances of Israel's royal seer : 

O, what is Man, that thou rememberest him? 

Or son of man, that thou regardest him ? — 

Made God these hghts, thinkest thou, for man alone ? 

Or doth th' illimitable depths of space, 

Infold a purpose of the Infinite mind, 

Which we but vainly hope to fathom here ? 

We fools, aspire to reach beyond ourselves. 

And vainly strive to gather gleams of light 

Forbidd'n. Our lives are girted with a hedge 

And boundary line : within, our little wills 

Hold undisputed sway ; without, we stand 

Upon the threshold of Infinity. 

We grope as shadows, seeking for the Light, 

And banquet on the husks of golden grain 

Not ours to garner ; drink the bitterest dregs 

Of life's insipid wine despoiled; condemn 

In childish speech what is, and fret and die : 

But when our bound is sundered, and we pass 

The threshold of these shadowy scenes to Light, 

Then shall we truly see as we are seen ; 

Who now but darkly see as thro' a glass, 

Shall then behold each other face to face. 

And know as we are known. Th' Eternal laws, 

Within whose grasp benignant all things are. 

Afflict, offended, mite and man alike. 

Half-light, albeit, opposing law to law. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 4 

But feebly serves to mitigate a pang, 

Which, half-averted, Man must yet endure 

Till Fullness come ; when His pervading beams 

Shall flood effulgent every yearning soul ; 

And every shadow shall be merged in light, 

And Darkness' self be fugitive from Day. 

No longer then shall penalty inhere, 

Nor suffering linger, for we break no law. 

Then shall the primal mandate giv'n to Man, — 

The image of Him, The One, Ineffable, 

'Replenish Thou the Earth,' — be cycle-closed ;-- 

Man shall be changed : — and, gently as some star. 

Or wand'ring Pleiad, darkling yet in space, 

Re-join th' innumerable train of spheres 

Which, vocal at creation's joyous dawn. 

With rhythmic cadence in melodic strain, 

Responsive in harmonious antiphone, — 

Never to falter more. Life's myriad forms, 

From plasm to plant, from brutes to Anakim, 

Extinct for aeons from the teeming earth. 

By courses gave or mute, or instinct heed 

Unto that Primal mandate, rounding slow 

Each several cycle to th' Eternal plan. 

Like them must Man fill his, but conscious ; yea. 

Toil on, compassed by laws which he must prove. 

Albeit, beset with perils, tears and death. 

But at the Fullness, shall this earthy pass ; 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 42 

The first incarnate likeness be reversed ; 
And Man become his pristine ghostly self 
Absolved of every strain of earthiness, 
Joint heir to realms in Light ! 

Simon. 
Dost thou, my lord, 

Believe our dust shall quicken in the tomb, 
Our incorporeal substance take agafn 
The death-despoiled mantle of the flesh ? 
And shall we live, and move, and breathe like those 
Whose whited bones lay bleaching in the vale, 
Revivify and join, — a synthesis 
Of life with death ? Or dost thou hold 
This new philosophy : our ghostly selves 
Shall be transmute to other substances, 
And ever and anon repeat our beings, 
By virtue of a predetermined law ? 

Saul. 

Nay, this I hold and know : God giveth to each 

Created soul on earth, an outward form, 

A beauteous vesture of mortality ; 

Whose face, proportion, feature, aspect, join 

Exact accordance with the inner life ; 

This, man may mar or mend of his free will, 

Nay, blast both body and soul in sinful lusts 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 43 

And die so : when he rises from the dead, 

By virtue of inexorable law, 

Will he be clothed on with habiliments, 

Th' expression of his incorporeal self; 

If brutalized by sin and sinful lusts, 

Shall his be marred as with the mark of Cain, 

But hath he lived a just and righteous life. 

His outward mien, like the pellucid gem, 

Which thro' his palpable form emits his light. 

Shall glow with beauty pure and incorrupt, 

And glow and live, and live and glow forever. 

For such a being, O Death, thou hast no sting ; 

O'er such, O Grave, hast thou no victory. 

Simon. 
My lord, Orion our vigil star declines. 
And by his quadrant of the heavens, our watch 
Is well nigh sped. 

Saul. 

Even so ; call our relief 
And let us take our rest. 

Simon, — ( Singing . ) 
Awake, companions, hasten forth, 

Part drea7ny slumbers from your eyes ; 
Arcturus glitters in the north, 
Orion glozvs ^mid southern skies. 

Awake, awake, awake. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 44 

(Answer from within the Tent. — ) 

IVith wakeful ears and watchful eyes, 

Our warders thro' Night 's starry sway. 
Till in the east Morn's purpling dyes 
Give earnest of returning day, 

We come, we come, we come. 

( \11 assembled without the Tent.) 

Let Peace profound abide with all, 
Preserve the toilers and the free ; 
No harmful check or cha?ice befall 
The service of her high decree : 

Good night, good night, good night. 
[Saul and Simon retire within the Tent. 

HUR. 

Companions, 

Let each dispose himself about our tent, 
As in his judgment best shall keep us safe 
Against unfriendly visit. 

Lucius. 

But we are 
Too many to observe such rigorous watch, 
As were compulsive in our Roman ranks, 
, When near the boundary of some hostile province, 

kOr in the quiet camp in time of peace. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 45 

We tarry here compact in near discourse, 
And jointly hold our watch? 

NiCANOR. 

Indeed, I think 
'Twere well: the season that remains till dawn 
Is brief, and warrants not that we observe 
Such strict disposal of ourselves, as were 
Elsewise befitting. 

Alexander. 

Well bethought, i' sooth : 
And if ye so incline, let us break off 
All other preparation, what think ye ? 
Good Zenas, Publius, Marc ? 

PUBLIUS. 

It were best so : 
Besides, together, we might so beguile 
The hours of slowness, with a tale or song. 
As it were dawn before we noted it. 

Zenas. 

Good Publius, thy suggestion Hkes me well : 
But who shall be our singer, what our chant, 
Or who shall choose the subject of our story ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 46 



Marc. 



Surely, in all our seven there be some 

Within whose mind lies hid a song, a chant, 

A tale that shall suffice : and so, sith I 

Yield last my speculation of a plan, 

Therefore will I make bold to tell a story. 

But first, let us withdraw a little space, 

Mayhap our voices shall disturb our friends. 

One day, in boyhood, when I had besought 

A story of my father, he to please 

And gratify my longing told me this : 

The scene lay here in Jewry, in what time 

We first were subjects to the Roman power ; 

Augustus reigned in Rome imperial lord, 

While here by sufferance, ruled a stranger king 

Usurper, sprung from Idumean stock, 

Herod the First, the first of Esau's line. 

That swayed a scepter over Jacob's sons ; 

A politic, bold, ambitious, bloody king. 

Who seemed as sent by heaven to scourge the land, 

Before the Christ should bless it with his reign. 

Albeit, many summers, full of change. 

Are added to that day in childhood's spring. 

The chiefest of the story now returns, 

As fresh as I had heard it newly told. 

This Herod, wed to serve ambitious ends. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 47 

A princess of our Asmonean House, 

Fair Mariamne ; to whose native charms, 

Grace strove with grace in yielding choicest gifts, 

T' adorn the noble woman, wife and queen. 

She loved, as woman truly loves her lord, 

And he loved her as monarch loves his spouse. 

But two sons bare she him, Aristobulus 

And Alexander, highly favored youths, 

For whom the people joyed, for that they saw 

In them assurance of our Royal House. 

Salome was displeased; to whom the king 

Lent certain audience in affairs of State, 

And she induced the king to jealous fears, 

Concerning his succession in the realm, 

Joining therewith aspersions 'gainst his wife, 

Sustained by seeming proofs, so subtly drawn 

As made her lord suspect her purity. 

Whereat, the jealous king like servile churl, 

Courting conclusions groundless of all proof, 

Seized on this wicked pretext for a deed 

That damned his peace and name for coming time : 

He slew his chaste, and beauteous wife and queen. 

As one immersed in crime cannot retrace 

His course, but needs must plunge yet deeper in, 

So Herod, — crimsoned with domestic gore, — 

Impelled by fearful thought that these two sons. 

Attained to manhood, might avenge the stroke 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 4^ 

That stopped their mother's life, and so defeat 

The king's most bloody aims, by dark resolve 

And cunning art devised, he murdered them. 

Nor rested here : for when the Magi came 

From farther East, inquiring, ' Where is He 

That is born King ? ' His jealous fears prevailed 

To make inquiry where that child should be. 

And when the answer came, ' In Bethlehem,' 

He gave command to slay all children male 

From two years under, lest a Prince arise, 

Who should dispute possession of his throne. 

Then all that land was woe and filled with tears : 

And all the people prayed with one accord 

His reign would cease ; and that the Christ would come 

To 'stablish peace and judgment in the land. 

The people's prayer was answered on the king, 

For on him fell a foul disease that spread 

O'er all his body ; so he died, and went 

To his own place ; and so the land was rid 

Of this most cruel, wicked, bloody king. 

Now are these acts, and others then unwrit. 

Recorded in the annals of the time. 

PUBLIUS. 

Yet this same king did many noble acts. 
Which shed a lasting glory on his name. 



saul of tarsus. 49 

Marc. 
O, true : when famine seized upon the land 
And dire distress, he sacrificed his treasures, 
Bought corn and seed in Egypt for the people. 
Belike, not more for their sakes did he this 
Than his : 'twere wiser he should give much gold 
To save a starving people, than to reign 
Within a realm depopulate. Besides, 
He builded many cities, towers and quays. 
Made frequent princely gifts, but last of all, 
And nobler than them all, he built anew 
The beauteous Temple of Jerusalem. 
And yet, with all he did of these, his name 
Remains a synonym for cruelty. 

PUBLIUS. 

Full many of his acts were scarce his own : 

He held his place from Caesar, and to him 

Was he obliged to answer at his nod. 

And so, oftimes the king declined to use 

The power which Caesar gave him, and did send 

To Rome to Caesar those convict of crimes. 

For last assize and judgment on their deeds. 

Marc. 
But Cassar held the king in ill repute 
At last. For when the king would slay his son. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 50 

Antipater, — by Doris, — he must needs 

Have judgment 'gainst his Hfe confirmed at Rome ; 

But Caesar, vexed that he should seal the death 

Of half the household of this bloody king, 

Spake this of him : 'Twere safer far, he said, 

That one were Herod's hog than his born son ; 

For, one he durst not kill for use as meat, 

Since his professed regard for law forbade ; 

The other held not that poor benefit. 

I wist not, brethren, how my father's story 

Could have forestalled so much of your discourse, 

And lest our time be thus consumed till dawn, 

Let us defer the further argument. 

To hear some new diversion from the rest. 

Zenas. 
Another story of our stranger king ? 

PUBLIUS. 

Be it less bloody, it shall please us well. 

Zenas. 

When the queenly Cleopatra, 
At the summit of her glory. 
Passed from Egypt into Parthia, — 
Whither she went up with Antony, 
On a warlike expedition, — 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 5 1 

Journeyed thence, enriched with tribute. 

Levied in that conquered province, 

Parting from her famous lover. 

To return to her dominions, 

She desired him to bestow her 

All the province of Judea. 

He, unwilling, tho' he loved her. 

To dethrone his friend king Herod, 

Gave the province Coelesyria 

To appease her greedy temper. 

Hungered by this acquisition. 

Wrung from Antony for his passion. 

She was fain to enter Jewry, 

And thro' wiles and fascination. 

Set a snare for Herod's kingdom. 

So she came to visit Herod, 

And the king went forth to meet her 

At the City of Damascus, 

Where she spread her wiles to snare him 

Under pretence of affection, 

And a passionate love she bare him ; 

Which, mayhap was partly real. 

Yet her object was his ruin 

And dethronement by his master. 

That she might possess his kingdom. 

But the king, tho' he admired her, 

Would not suffer her to snare him 



SAUL OF TARSUS. $2 

In the meshes of her intrigues, 

And was half indined to kill her, 

To escape her fascination. 

For he knew, whate'er he gave her, 

Or dominion or affection. 

As a pledge of faith or friendship, 

Egypt's queen would sure betray him. 

So advising with his council. 

On what course he should adventure, 

He restrained his bloody purpose. 

Treating her in kingly fashion, 

That she might not be offended ; 

For, when she took her departure. 

He bestowed upon her presents, 

Gave her conduct to her borders. 

So the king was chance-delivered, 

From the wily Cleopatra, 

Who had bound the famous Antony, 

Abject slave to her designing. 
And this, mayhap, with Marc's story is writ 
In the concurrent history of the time. 

Now, who among us hath the gift of song. 
Will cheer belike, the laggard hours unsped, 
With rhythmic chant, or voice of minstrelsy. 
Now grave, now gay, of his best mood. Our star 
A twinkling ictus to the strain will lend. 
To mark each measure of melodious flow ; 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 53 

The time, meanwhile, sweep on, thus HghtUer fledg'd. 
How say'st, Good Alexander? 



Alexander. 

'Twere well done - 
Know ye the fishers of Gennesaret, 
Those toilers on that sometime perilous sea ? 
And how they note the watches of the night 



With bated breath ; how cast their tangled nets 
To compass finny shoals ; how boisterous flaws 
Toss, in mad revelry, their hapless barks 
From trough to crest of curling, yeasty waves ? 
And how they long for day, lest, drifting lorn, 
They strand upon unfriendly lee, or plunge 
Headlong beneath the seething flood and perish ? 
E'en now returns, across the waste of years 
This cry, once lifted from Gennesaret, 
To Him for succor, who is strong to save : 
(Sings.) 

Night broods over the stormy sea, 
Dangers threaten my bark and ?fie, 
Hear the cry that I lift to Thee, 

Father hear Thou my petition : 
Be Thou shelter against the blast, 
Be 7tiy refuge till storms be past, 
Lead me onward to Light at last. 
Father of might and monition. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 54 

Lord^ the tempest grows fierce and wild, 
Doubt and weakness possess Thy child, 
Bid the waters around me piled, 

Calm into silent submission. 
Help me baiiish distrust and fear, 
Faith jny pilot be, Hope niy cheer. 
Make me know that my God is near. 

Guiding me into fruition. 

Dawn breaks over Life's stormy sea. 
Beaming full on my bark and me, 
Lo, the haven where I luould be. 

Rises a beautiful vision ; 
Skies are changing from gloom to glow, 
Blasts are waning to breezes low. 
Hear the heralding Angel blow. 

Enter the portal Elysian. 

HUR. 

Orion sinks below the shadowy verge ; 
The stars which gUttered in the veil of night 
Grow fainter, one by one, and fail ; yon clouds. 
Which tarry at the portals of the East, 
With ruddy blushes greet the King of Day. 
Our vigil sped, let us with full accord 
Give joyful greeting to the rising dawn. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 55 

(Singing.) Hail, golden Morning, 
Hail, All-adorning, 

Thy shafts of light. 
And banners bright, 

Chase Night away ; 
Hearts full and bounding, 
Voices resounding. 

Our joy we bring. 
An offering, 

To new-born Day, 

[Enter Saul and Simon. 

Farting from slumber 

And joining in a glee, 
Exultingly number 

The toilers with the free ; 
Hearts full and boundifig. 
Voices resounding. 

Our joy we bring, 
An offering. 

To new-born Day. 

Exeunt omnes. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 56 

ACT III. 

Scene I. — On the highivay to Damascus: Morning: 
The towers of the City in sight. 

Enter Saul and Companions. 

Saul. 

Companions, hitherto, have I forborne 

To speak but Httle for my sacred trust ; 

Howbeit, as we approach our journey's end 

And entrance on the duties that I owe, 

Give me, I pray you, your attentive ears 

To this impartment ; what those duties are, 

And wherefore I am minister thereto. 

I am a Jew, begot of Hebrew stock, 

And bred by strictest law a Pharisee. 

I own a zeal for God that will not brook 

Infringement of his law, by open act 

Or doctrine, taught by precept, parable. 

Or prayer, public or hid ; whereby the heart 

Misled, denies the service due to Him. 

I therefore am constrained, for conscience sake, 

To wage an open war on all, who aid, 

Abet, or succor enemies of Law ; 

But chiefly those despised Nazarenes, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 57 

Led on by Jesus, falsely called the Christ ; 

(He who was apprehended, tried and slain 

Because he made himself the Son of God,) 

For they persist to teach he is not dead 

But risen ; these, with other monstrous frauds, 

Do they impose upon the common folk, 

And thereby gain great following ; this, I 

Am pledged to countervail by all the power 

The Sanhedrim can wield ; and to that end. 

Hath it commissioned me by sign and seal, 

Affixed by God's vicegerent of the earth, — 

His own High Priest, — with power to seize and bind 

All disobedient to our holy laws, 

And hale them to Jerusalem for trial. 

This is the labor that I fain would do, 

And these the mandates I would fain obey. 

Simon. 

My lord, 
Hereto have I, — and these for whom I speak, — 
Observed in silence ; let me crave a word : — 
We laud the zeal and motive of thy cause. 
And to our service join such cordial love, 
As should inviolate keep God's holy law 
Could it avail. Thou knowest th' Sovereign voice. 
Thro' Moses, uttered into Israel's ear 
These sacred words : The Lord thy God is One : 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 58 

Serve thou none other : worship none but Me : 

For I am jealous : My reward is just. 

Where there be those, of whom thou spakest but now, 

Let them be judged according to the law, 

For God's law must prevail, we have no choice. 

Saul. 

Ye know how Moses saw the flaming Bush, 

And how God called him from the midst, and said, 

I AM THAT AM TO COME: thy fathers' God: 

Ye know how Moses doubted, how God said 

Again, Thus shalt thou say in Israel's ear : 

I AM hath sent me unto you, — the LORD : 

This is my Name forever : this know ye, 

In sooth, this is the prologue to our law ; 

And, thou shalt have none other gods but Me : 

The Law itself which we must vindicate. 

But whoso vainly taketh on his lips 

The Name Ineffable, committeth Sin 

Which He, whose means we are, doth not remit. 

But makes our hands his chosen instruments 

And bids us strike. Blasphemy is of Men : 

Man of the earth and subject unto law. 

Wherefore, if one blaspheme, and teach men so. 

On him doth fall what penalty is mete 

For him who sheddeth man's blood wherein is life. 

God's ways are equal ; equal punishment 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 59 

Importeth equal sin; We may not choose. 
Companions, ere we enter on our work, 
I would on each and all of you impose 
A solemn vow, to faithfully perform 
All duties, acts, in gross and singular. 
That place and circumstances shall enjoin ; 
That we be swerved not by our sympathies, 
Nor let divisions raised on questioning doubt, 
Defeat us in the duties of this hour. 

Simon. 

We deem such obligation simply meet 

And worthy to be done ; and we will pledge 

Our fealty to thy cause, by solemn vow, 

Made here and now, as it may please thee best, 

Upon this desert plain. 

Saul. 
Come, then, at once : 

(On bended knee, with hand uplift to Heaven, 

In presence of the dread I AM, the Lord,) 

We, — Lucius, Alexander, Publius, Marc, 

Nicanor, Zenas, Simon, Hur and Saul, — 

Do all and each, make this our solemn vow : 

So far as in me lies will I defend. 

From sin's polluting touch, God's holy Law, 

And teach men so : with all the strength I have, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. ^ 6o 

Will I wage rig'rous, unrelenting war 

On all, or Heathens, or Samaritans, 

Or Nazarenes, who teach or propagate 

The monstrous fraud that Jesus is the Christ. 

And to that end do I pledge here and now, 

What time, what power, what favoring means 1 own, 

As God shall strengthen me. Amen. Amen. \_All rising. 

Now press we onward to the City gates. 

And gain we entrance thither, ere the shades 

Of night descend, constraining us again 

To hold our vigils on the desert plain. 

The day invites us and the bracing air, 

Joined to the hope that we draw near our goal 

Lend trip and reHsh to our march. 

Simon. 

My lord, 
Doth yonder in the hazy distance rise 

The ancient City's wall ? Or do I see 
The phantom of the desert, mocking, lift 
His airy form above the earth and float 
In middle air? 

Saul. 

Let me observe. 

Simon. 

Look north. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 



Saul. 



Damascus should be two-score furlongs hence, 

Or I forget, a goodly reach of vision ; 

The hope of things to come oft lends us sight, 

And, as the way-worn pilgrim sees in dreams 

His shrine above the verge, but wakes to find 

It vanished, so may thy desire to see 

The things desired, lend pleasing shape to them 

They have not. Let me thither look. 

{A/ this mouient they are surrounded by a blinding light.) 

Slmon and Companions : 
Save us ! 
Saul. ' 
Down! Down! Against the friendly Earth lie prone! 

Voice. 
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me ? 

Saul. 

Ha! Who 
Art thou, my lord ? 

Voice. 

I AM :* JESUS: whom thou 
Dost persecute. 



>i< 



r[^r\ 



saul of tarsus. 62 

Saul. 
My Lord 1— What shall I do ? 

Voice. 

Arise, into the City go, and there 

It shall be told thee then what thou must do. 

Saul. — (Rising.) 
Companions, — pray ye, — lead me, — I am blind! 

Simon. 

My lord ! Companions! This is terrible ! 

How sayst thou, blind ? My lord, believe it not. 

Thou art but shocked and dazzled by the light ; 

The dread effulgence glowed so fierce, indeed, 

We durst not choose but hide away our eyes 

For anguish. Sayst thou, blind ? This cannot be ; 

Doth all the world seem dark to thee and void ? 

Dost thou perceive no little gleam of light ? 

Is't all so dark ? 

Saul. 

Impenetrable gloom ! 



Simon. 
Give me thy hand, and let me lead thee on. [Exeunt. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 63 

Scene W.—Bcfon the Gates of Damascus. 
Enter Saul and Companions. Simon leading Saul. 

Saul. 

Lead me, Companions, to the street called Straight, 

Where Judas dwells, my tried and early friend, 

Of him will I a present refuge crave. 

This fearful visitation terminates 

What love, what zeal, I sometime owed our cause ; 

When ye are strengthened of your journey hither, 

Return unto Jerusalem again ; 

These letters carry unto our High Priest, 

And tell him what distress has fallen on me. 

Companions, for your kindness, love and zeal, 

I yield what thanks a breaking heart can give, 

And bid you each a dark, a sad farewell. 

\_Exeunt. 



Scene \\\.— Before the Gate of Judas' House. 
Enter Saul and Companions : Simon knocks. 

Enter Servant. 

Simon. 
Friend, 
Beseech thy lord that he do come to us. 



saul of tarsus. 64 

Servant. 
What is thy name, and what wilt thou of hiai ? 

Simon. 

Nay, tell thy lord there standeth at his gate, 

A friend in sore distress. \Exit Servant. 

Enter Judas.] 

Judas. 

Peace be with you ! 

Simon. 
Hail, Brother! 

Judas. 
What friend bringst thou to me ? 

Saul. 

One Saul of Tarsus, — haply strange to thee 
By reason of his plight, — who craves of thee 

A refuge. 

Judas. 

Friend and brethren, ye are welcome! 

Saul. 

These friends, my brother, at my bidding, led 
Me to thy gate, and now I am bestowed. 
Will take their leave. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 65 

Simon to Saul. 

We take unwilling leave of thee my lord, 

Yet, do obey thee for the love we owe ; 

Retrace our steps oppressed with double dole, 

For our defeated duty yields no fruit, 

On thee alone rests dread calamity. 

While we, thy partners in the enterprise, 

Albeit as thou as worthy, yet are free. 

W^e may not question aught of this ; 'tis His 

Who reigneth over all to judge of all 

And chasten ; but to serve and suffer ours. 

O, if the hour of sore distress do come 

To us, may we have strength to bear as thou ! 

Thy message and these letters will I carry 

To our High Priest, acquaint him with this sorrow : 

What service else thou wouldst commit to me, 

Command. So must we take our leave, Farewell ! 

Saul. 
To each and all, a sorrowing, sad Farewell ! 

[Saul embraces each of them. 



Judas to Simon. 
Farewell ! 
{To Saul.) Now, brother, let me lead thee in. [Exeunt. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 66 

Scene IV. — A?i apartment in Judas' house. 
E?iter Saul led by Judas. 

Judas. 
Brother Saul, 

My heart doth yearn for thee in this sad plight, 

Let me I pray, attend thee in thy need, 

Revive thy spirit, help thee cast thy woe, 

And be thyself again. If 'tis thy will, 

I fain would from thee thy sad tale beguile : 

What brought thee to this favor, how it chanced 

That darkness like a dread eclipse hath filmed 

Thine eyes, and spread thy hopeful prospect o'er 

With baleful gloom. Discharge thy woe in words 

And find relief. 

Saul. 

My Brother, I set out 

To do a conscience work, with all the zeal 

That conscience would approve. I held the brief 

Of Ananias unto brethren here, 

To certify me under seal to them. 

In full commission, his embassador, 

Which thou well knowest is held by every Jew, 

Equivalent to power direct from God. 

We, namely, I and eight companions else. 

Began our journey hither, and had reached 

A plain beyond the walls, some furlongs off, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 67 

Where we knelt down and made a solemn vow, 

Of hate to Christ and fealty to the Law. 

As we arose and looked towards the north, 

About mid-day, there shone around us al), 

A light from heaven above the brightest sun ; 

And when from very anguish at the light, 

We bowed us to the ground and hid our eyes, 

A voice said to me in the Hebrew tongue : — 

(Albeit unheard in my companions' ears,) — 

Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou Me ? Then, Who 

Art thou, I said, — for. Brother, I was armed 

With power which I believed was paramount 

To all save God's, and for the sake of Him 

Whom I then humbly served, I said it. Who 

Art thou ? — The answer came in words that burned 

Their fiery impress on mine inmost soul, — 

I AM : * JESUS : whom thou dost persecute ! 

O, Brother, had the earth beneath my feet, 

Rocked by upheavels from abysmal gloom 

Then gaped, or had the bond that keeps me here 

Been loosed, unveiling to my troubled soul 

The gates of dunnest Hades yawning wide, 

And hateful demons of the Stygian bourne 

At riot with their kind, 'twere no compare. 

To that dread awe, that deep disgust, that hate 



* 



mn 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 68 

And self-abhorence which I ftlt, to know 

/waged a war against the dread I AM,-!^ 

And Jesus whom He raised up from the dead, 

Exalted^ Glorified^ Co-equal God ! 

And so, when I, poor fool, that was but now 

Puffed up by ignorant unbeUef, and rushed 

In impious warfare 'gainst divinest truth, 

Perceived that truth, — the Light and Voice conjoined, — 

Was of the very Godhead issuant, 

I said in dread humility, O Lord, 

What shall I do? His gracious answer this: 

Arise, into the City go, and there 

It shall be told thee what thou ought'st to do. 

Then I arose and op'd mine anguished eyes, 

To see no more the light of beauteous day, 

But feel alas, impermeable gloom ! 

This, Brother, is the history told in brief. 

Of my adventure hither to the end. 

Judas. 
Good Brother, I will leave thee here alone ; 
Woo thou composure from refreshing sleep, 
To-morrow, would I hear again from thee. 
Farewell, and rest thee ! 

Saul. 
Good, my friend. Farewell ! [Exeunt. 



* 



mn 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 69 

Scene V. — Another apartment in Judas' house. 
Enter Judas. 

I mocked my Brother, when I said, Farewell, 
And bade him rest : for who may tranquUize 
His soul diseased by sense of grievous fault ? 
Thou radiant angel of the realm of Peace, — 
Calm Sleep, — with daintiest touch relax the chords 
That thrill'to keenest anguish in that heart, 
Tense with unrivalled grief! I may not rest : 
Nor choose but dwell on this disastrous chance ; 
Yet what to think or how to apprehend 
The true import of this amazing stroke. 
Which fills his soul with awe and mine with doubt, 
Alas ! I know not. What then may I do ? 
When admiration challenges belief, 
And prompt Suspicion whispers that mine ears 
Failed of their trusted function ? Yet, when I 
Perceive dark Ruin throned upon his eyes, 
And glorious day veiled from their precious sense, 
They stamp with mute approval all his words. 
And set the seal of silence to Distrust. 
Saul ever was my close and faithful friend ; 
And who possessed his friendship truly owed 
A grace. Guileless, and frank, and just was he, 
And kind. His speech discreet ; a zeal and will 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 70 

Were joined in all his acts. Respecting law, 

He walked before his God a blameless man. 

My thoughts fly constant to that day in Phur, 

When we our methods scanned in free discourse ; 

He showed me all his plans, what course they ran, 

How to view the hopeful future spread; 

And praised with warmth those famous seats of lore 

The schools of Hillel and Gamaliel. 

I learned to love the manhood that he bare, 

As David loved the son of kingly Saul. 

But now, 

O merciful God ! a withering blight infolds 

The bud and promise of his ruddiest hopes ; 

While darkness tangible, envelopes all 

The light and glory of his faculties ! 

Would I revert my face to muse on this, 

Methinks his blinded eyes in eager gaze, 

Pursue my voice, as haply they might catch, 

One instant glimmer of a friendly ray 

Parting the gloom ; while there hapless he stands. 

Deject of hope and spirit, helpless, blind ! 

No speculation then remains but this : 

God's Light withstood him. — Show Thou him Thy way 

And Thy deliverance from this chastening scourge I [£xi/. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 7 I 

Scene VI. — Saul's apartment in '^x^xik'^' house. 
Saul, Sleeping on a eoue/i. While he sleeps an effulgence ap- 
pears^ and ift the midst of it the Ineffable Name. 
Dreams : 

The Light ! The Light ! O, Joy ! O, Life ! My lord, 
What wouldst thou ? and wilt thou bless me thus ? 

( Waking. ) 
Was that celestial visitation Sleep ? 

Or was it but a phantom of the brain 

Distressed, that doth such rapture conjure up, 

As mocks the soul to damn'd delirium ? 

All dark : — but now it seemed as bright as day ; 

That brightness all has vanished. Bright as day ? 

No ; not to me, for night and day are one 

Continuous night. 

Methought I saw a form 

Clad in white raiment, glistering, pure and fair, 

And glorious. He stood : regardmg me 

With steadfast gaze and countenance so lit 

With heaven benignity, I fain 

Had fallen in adoration at his feet ; 

But when I knelt as to an act of prayer, 

To such celestial visitant, he moved 

His gracious hands across my sightless eyes, 

As he would wipe away the dread eclipse. 

And passed. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 72 

O, sightless, sbriftless, desolate man am I, 

Who scorned God's proffered light, nay, strove to queli 

His Blessed Witness to my obdurate heart. 

With all the puny vigor of my will. 

Till now I feel without and know within. 

The fearful darkness of redoubling gloom ! 

O, whither shall I turn to cast this woe ? 

How heal the anguish of a bruised heart ? 

To whom lift up my agonizing cry 

In hope of audience? Exit. 

s 

ScEXE VII. — An elevation without Jerusalem. 
Enter Simon and companions, on their return : 

Simon. 
Brethren, 

The saddest duty yet enjoined on me, 

Is this sad journey to Jerusalem. 

My heart will tarry with our brother Saul 

In his calamity ; while my poor self 

Am here. I fain had disobeyed his words, 

Albeit, I knew how poorly I could help 

Him from his great distress ; and so, methinks, 

'Twere fitter as it is, than I should seek 

To labor to a bootless end. 



saul of tarsus. 73 

Alexander. 

So strange 
Was his mischance, that dread amazement filled 
My very soul with terror, and I wist 
Nor how to act, nor how to think as man. 
But speechless stood, as brute which knows no act 
By instinct uninduced, or by command 
Of mind intelligent ; for only he 
Retained his wits in poise, and only he 
Foresaw for us, the hurt that rests on him. 

Nicanor. 

The light was sudden : and to all it glowed 

With untold fierceness : sun, or star aflame, 

Or any flame beheld of man till then. 

Were as a flickering rush light to the sun. 

Compared with it. Our feeble sense, unwont 

To such refulgent glow, grew impotent 

And failed ; and then, methought a veil was drawn 

O'er all, and what should be by single sight 

Beheld, by organs visual, now appears 

A sense of some thing rather felt than seen. 

Alexander. 
Heardst thou the sound of speech articulate ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 74 



NiCANOR. 



Save only that of Brother Saul's command : 

' Down, Down, against the friendly earth Ue prone,' 

And his defiant question, ' Who art thou ? ' 

Then rested : till again he brake the spell. 

With those imploring piteous words of his : 

* O Lord, what wilt thou have me do for thee ? ' 

No more. Stay : when I holp him to arise 

He said, companions, Lead me, I am blind : 

No other voice, or sound of speech heard I, 

I was too rapt to speak, and so wert thou, 

And all of us too rapt, and to this hour 

I have but little heart to speak of it; 

It seemed but as a vision I had seen. 

Alexander. 

It was a visitation unto Saul, 

But not for us ; for that we heard no sound 

Or speech save his, by his own words we know 

A voice rebuked him, else had he not set 

His last reply to tone implorative. 

But more than this, beUke, shall we not know. 

Simon. 

From this high ground, half-hid in yonder mist 
Behold the City of the Holy Mount ; 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 75 

Whither Messias, glorious Prince of Peace, 
Shall come to stablish judgment for a world. 
Let us not enter thither, ere we lift 
For her our voices in a hymn of trust, 
While we return in safety to her gates. 

(Singing.) 

I. 

Jentsakni, thou Sacred Height^ 

Throne of Messias yet to be, 

Thy steadfast trust abide to see 

The glory of His Love and Light ; 

II. 
IVho conies to reign thy Priest and King, 
Thy righteous Judge in Equity ; 
From whose right hand the Law shall be 
Just recompense for suffering. 

III. 
Adore the great, the ILoly Naine, 

Wherein Love, Might and Mercy dioell ; 

Praise GOD, L AM,^—IMMANUEL,— 
Ln one perpetual acclaim. 

IV. 

O, magnify LLis mercy shown, 

To thee in all thy wandering ways/, 
Let thy oblations glow with praise, 

And rise an incense to LLis Throne. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 76 

V. 

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 

Lift up thy gates, to praise resound ; 
Receive the King of Glory crowned 
With His eternal diadem. [Exeunt. 

Scene VITI. — Before the Gates of ]\jdx?>' House. 
Enter Ananias of Damascus. 

Methinks this house is his which stands apart. [Kfiocks. 

\Enter Servant.] 
Bear friendly salutation to thy lord, 
And say I, Ananias, do entreat 
His presence straight. \Exit Servant. 

Enter Judas. 

Peace be unto thee ! 

Ananias. 

Hail, Brother ! I am hither come to seek 
One Saul of Tarsus, newly lodged with thee. 

Judas. 

I yield thee welcome to mine house and guest. 
And will conduct thee to his presence straight. 
This is the third day since his advent hither, 
Borne down by heavy woe and led by those, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 77 

Who journeyed with him from Jerusalem. 

Even now, as I drew near where he is lodged, 

Methought imploring voice smote on mine ear ; 

Now go we thither. Soft ! Behold he prayeth ! 

Let me withdraw, commune with him alone. \^Exit]\]v>A?>. 



Scene IX. — Saul's apart;ne?it in Judas' house. 
Saul at prayer. Enter Ananias, unobserved. 

Saul. 

God, Thou dread I AM,>i^ My Lord ! My God ! 
Eternity is ever present to Thee ! 

Creator, Judge, Deliverer, Father, Friend ! 

Thou hast the issues of Eternal life. 

And that life's Hope doth surely dwell with Thee. 

To Thee do I stretch forth these blood-stained hands. 

And strain these sightless eyes towards Thy dread Throne; 

My plea is mercy, though for mine offence, 

1 durst not sue for mercy, knew I not 
That attribute were infinite in Thee. 
My heart is open to Thy searching eye, 

My damning guilt lies festering in Thy sight ; 
Thou knowest, O God, how I withstood Thy Christ, 
In ignorant unbelief I stoned his saints. 
And drave them homeless forth in maddening hate. 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 78 

To wander, starve and perish for His Name. 

Omnipotent Judge, can mercy blanch my sin ? 

Or purge away the guilt of mine offence ? 

Have I not sinned so foully in Thy sight. 

That Sovereign Justice will be satisfied, 

And Hope depart forever ? 

Hear Thou, O God ! Hear Thou the desolate prayer 

A guilt-stained, contrite soul, lifts up to Thee ! 

If grace and mercy be not grieved away, — 

If my great sin do not deserve from Thee, 

The fearful judgment of consuming wrath, — 

Forgive, O Lord, and blot my record out. 

It is not meet that I should plead for grace, 

Nor do I plead for any worthiness 

I own ; but He, — Thy sole-Begotten Son, — 

That Sinless, Slain, Ascended Sacrifice, 

x\ll worthy in Thy sight to plead for me, — 

Assures forgiveness for my chiefest sin, 

Nay, bears that curse Himself! Amen ! 

Ananias. 

Amen ! 

Saul. 
Who joins entreaty to my humble prayer ? 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 79 



Ananias. 



I, Ananias, have stood by and heard 

Thy prayer to Him who hears and answers prayer ; 

He bade me say to thee Look up to Him, 

Whom thou didst late withstand, against whose saints 

Thy wicked hands were raised in impious war; 

For He will w^ash away thy damning guilt. 

And make thy sins that red as crimson are, 

Whiter than purest snow, O Brother Saul, 

Receive thy sight ! 

Saul. 

O Light ! My God ! Thy Light !- 
O, Brother, He is merciful! Now I kno7u, 
His pitying Eye beheld mine anguished heart, 
His gracious Ear inclined to hear my cry, 
His Sovereign Hand omnipotent to save. 
Restores his function to this precious sense, 
And parts the shadow from this burdened soul. 
That struggled in thick darkness to be free ! 
Even while thou spakest, Brother, ere I saw 
One little gleam of light, the shades that hung 
Upon my vision these three days, were loosed. 
And at thy blessed invocation brake 
And fell away dissolved, as disappears 
Night's murky mantle from a restless world, 
Before approaching Day. Now I see thee, 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 8o 

And now His grace illumines all my soul, 

And I perceive that Light which lights the world ! 

Ananias. 

Come, Brother Saul, join we in giving praise 
To God, I AU;^ All-wise, All-great, All-good, 
Who of His counsels deemed it meet to make 
Of thee the object, me the humble mean, 
Wherewith to show His might and majesty, 
And magnify the glory of His Name. 
Who of an open enemy of Christ, 
Hath made His wiUing instrument of praise. 
For thou shalt witness to a heathen world, 
The life, the death, the triumph of His Son ; 
Yea, thou shalt glory in that cross of shame. 
Which bare the bleeding form of Israel's hope. 
By Israel's madness crucified to death. 
From age to age, from clime to clime, be Thou 
The earnest-symbol of the Life to come ! 
Rise, Brother Saul, and let our hearts rejoice, 

Saul, {rising and chanting.) 

Give praise unto the Lord, O thou, my soul. 
And all within me praise His holy Name. 



mn' 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 8 I 



Ananias. 



Give praise unto the Lord, O thou my soul, 
And give thou thanks for all His benefits; 

Saul. 

For He alone forgiveth all thy sins, 
And healeth thee of thine infirmities. 

Ananias. 

Who from destruction's way preserves thy life. 
And crowneth thee with Mercy's loving kindness. 

Saul. 

O, praise the Sovereign Lord, ye angels praise, 
Ye that excel in strength His power praise ; . 

Ananias. 

Ye that do His commandments all fulfill. 
And hearken to the voice of His word. 

Saul. 

O praise the Sovereign Lord all ye His hosts. 
Ye servitors of His that do His pleasure ; 

Ananias. 
O speak good of the Lord ye works of His, 
In every place of His dominions : 



saul of tarsus. 

Saul and Ananias. 
Praise give the Sovereign Lord, O thou my soul 

Saul. 

Brother, how k newest thou that I am here ? 
Wert not sent hither ? and by whom ? 

Ananias. 

I was. 

The Lord did send me unto thee and said : 

Arise, and go into the street called Straight, 

Inquire in Judas' house for Saul of Tarsus, 

For lo, he prayeth ; and in a vision hath seen 

A man named Ananias, coming in 

And putting his hands upon him that he might 

Receive his sight again ; 

Saul. 

Amazing grace ! 
I had a vision, Brother, like to this. 

Ananias. 

— And bade me say that he hath chosen thee 
To know his will and see that Just One, Christ ; 
And hear His voice ; for thou shalt be to Him 
A witness unto all, for all the things 
That thou hast seen and heard. — • 



SAUL OF TARSUS 83 

And now why dost thou longer tarry ? Come, 
And be baptised, and wash away thy sins 
And call upon the Lord for help. 



Saul. 



I will. 



Ananias. 
Thou dost believe I AM, the Lord is ONE : 
Believest thou that Jesus is the Christ, 
Which was to come, and die, and rise for Man ? 
Believest thou this ? 

Saul. 

A mere assent hereto. 
Were quickly made. As God, my Judge, doth live, 
In whom I trust, and who will save my soul 
Alive in that Great-Day, I do believe ; 
And I confess His Christ before the world. 
Herein is Sovereign mercy richly shed : 
My sin was greater than was Korah's sin, 
And I deserved an swifter doom than his. 
I set my steadfast course against His Christ, 
Denied His Godhood, stoned His saints to death : 
I wot not what I did, my soul was dark, 
Till God's effulgence glistering thro' mine eyes 
Their vision sealed, yet lit mine inmost soul 
To recognize the Godhood's wondrous grace. 



saul of tarsus. 84 

Ananias. 

And wilt thou be baptised in this beHef, 
IJecome regenerate, purged from sin and free ? 

Saul. 

This outward sign whereto I )'ield consent, 

As seal and confirmation of my faith, 

Doth Ukewise witness bear for grace divine. 

For I am one who am untimely born ; 

Who warfare waged against the Church of God ; 

Whose sin shall be to all the world a sign. 

To show how long His Spirit strives with men. 

Yet what I am, is by the grace of God, 

And by the grace of God shall I be free. 

Ananias. 
Lo, Saul of Tarsus, do I thee baptise 
And sign thee with the stigma of the Cross : 
And in the ever Blessed Name, I AM,^ — 
The Father, Son and Spirit, God,— All-One,— 
Be born again ; yea, let thy name be changed. 
Let Saul, henceforth be synonym for Sin, 
And let my voice proclaim to all the world. 
Eternal witness of thy second birth. 
Thy name is Paul. Thy sins be purged away, 

rnrp" 



SAUL OF TARSUS. 85 

The Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 

Preserve thy soul to everlasting life ; 

Go straightway forth, His Gospel preach to all, 

Apostle of His resurrection be ; 

His grace and mercy richly shed on thee, 

Invoke on all who shall His name confess ; 

Whoso repenteth, would from sin be free, 

Baptise thou in the Blessed Name, — All-One, — 

Lo, He is with thee to the end. 

Saul. 

Amen. 

Ananias. 

We praise Thy Name, O God ; we do confess 
Thou only art the Lord, 

Saul. 

All on the earth 
Doth worship Thee, the Father Everlasting. 

Ananias. 
To Thee, all Angels cry aloud, the Heavens 
And all the Powers therein. 

Saul. 

The Cherubim 
And Seraphim continually do cry ; 



saul of tarsus. 86 

Ananias. 
O, Holy, Holy, Holy, God of Hosts, 

Saul. 
The Heavens and Earth are full of Thy great Glory. 

Ananias. 
The Prophets' goodly fellowship give Thee praise ; 

Saul. 
The Apostles' glorious company give Thee praise ; 

Ananias. 
The Martyrs' noble army give Thee praise ; 

Saul. 
The Holy Church to be, acknowledge Thee, 

Ananias. 
The Father of an Infinite Majesty ; 

Saul. 
Th' adorable true and only Son our Lord, 

Ananias. 
The Holy Ghost the Blessed Comforter. 



saul of tarsus. 87 

Saul. 
Thou art the King of Glory, O Lord Christ. 

Ananias. 
The Everlasting Son of God art Thou. 

Saul. 
Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, 

Ananias. 
And deign'dst Thyself to be of Virgin born. 

Saul. 
When Thou hadst overcome the sting of death, 

Ananias. 
Thou open'dst the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. 

Saul. 
Thou sittest Lord, at the right hand of God ; 

Ananias. 
Thou art the brightness of the Father's glory. 

Saul. 
We do believe that Thou shalt be our Judge ; 



saul of tarsus. 88 

Ananias. 
We therefore pray that Thou Thy servants help, 

Saul. 
Whom Thou redeemedst with Thy precious Blood. 

Ananias. 
Thy people save, O Lord, bless Thou Thy saints, 

Saul. 
Yea, govern them and lift them up forever. 

Ananias. 
We magnify Thee day by day ; 

Saul. 

Thy Name 
We worship ever, world without end. 

Ananias. 
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep our souls from sin, 

Saul. 
O Lord, have mercy, mercy Lord on us. 

Ananias. 

O Lord, Thy mercy be on us, our trust 
Is all in Thee. 



saul of tarsus. 89 

Saul. 

O Lord, in Thee I trust : 
And let me never, never be confounded. 

Ananias. 
Our praises done, my duty here fulfilled, 
This mission ends. I may not longer tarry 
Than doth suffice to greet thee, Brother Paul, 
Servant of God. Be diligent in prayer: 
Be steadfast in the faith : Be vigilant : 
Rejoice in hope and labor with thy might, 
Till Christ's appearing. 

Saul. 

Brother, if 'twere meet, 

I would beseech thee tarry yet with me, 

But I may not. Albeit, this grace I crave : 

Pray God that He vouchsafe me strength to do 

His will. 

Ananias. 

Amen! Farewell! [^aY/ Ananias. 

Saul. 
Farewell ! 
Like one, who first released frcm dark restraint 
Beholds the light, yet with uncertain step 
Doth halt and grope his way, till vision grow 
Accustomed to the day's unwonted glare, 



SAUL OF TARSUS 90 

And guide his feet aright, so here pause I, 

Who am but newly come to know His Light, 

But not for doubt which way my duty lieth. 

For faith, doth to my trustful soul secure 

That blessed evidence of things unseen, 

Which, joined to duty owed to God's behests, 

Directs my feet aright, till He be pleased 

To call me hence. But in my retrospect, — 

Which seemed aforetime to my mind God's way, 

Illumined by that Light which quickeneth all, — 

Appears, revealed to this regenerate soul, 

A passage devious, leading hitherwards, 

Obscured by vain traditions, shadowy types. 

Which are but chaff and stubble, nothing worth. 

Nor stand I here forsaken. My soul's Trust, 

Will give me wisdom, strength and speech, and grace 

To spread His gospel in a godless world ; 

Not by vain boasting, weak philosophy, 

Nor excellent speech, save only that which flows 

From perfect knowledge oi the glorious theme, 

That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

For now am I persuaded, neither death, 

Nor life, nor angels, principalities 

Nor powers, nor present thmgs, nor things to come, 

Nor height, nor depth, nor any creature else. 

Shall separate me from the love of God, 

Which is in Jtsus Christ our Lord. Amen. \Exit. 



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